Grader



April 28, 1942- D. F. BAUMGARTNER GRADER Filed May 6, 1941 4Sheets-Sheet 1- INVEN Danlzl E Boumga BY M, W *M TTORNEYS.

April 1942- D. F. BAUMGARTNER 2,281,224

GRADER Filed May 6, 1941 4 SheetsSheet 2 I INVENTOR. Daniel EBaumgari'nerr M PM - ATTORNEYS April 28, 1942. D. F. BAUMGARTNER GRADERFiled May 6, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTQR.

E Z n IT r 0 a: m U G W H G M, w; M

ATTORNEYS.

D. F. BAUMGARTNER 4 Sheets-S 4 GRADEP Filed May 1941 II I 53 27 5955 54I 5 II W 27 1 l a F H I I H I II H 1 I, U I I L- 4 4 28 1/ II, 6 5

I 22 2| 1 I 3o l6 e4 IN OR- BY M 1m ATTORNEYS Patented Apr. 28, 1942UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GRADER Daniel F. Baumgartner, Bucyrus, Ohio Application May 6, 1941,Serial No. 392,064

4 Claims.

My invention relates to a grader. It has to do, more particularly, witha road grader which is provided with a scraper blade adapted to operatein a horizontal position or at any desired angle relative to thehorizontal.

In the past, several different types of road graders have been providedwhich have included a scraper blade that could be adjusted from thehorizontal position to any desired angular position up to asubstantially vertical position. This type of road grader is adapted tobe used for grading horizontal road surfaces or for gradin the verticalsurfaces of ditches or banks. However, the prior art road graders ofthis general type have been possessed of certain undesirable features.Usually the scraper blade is carried on a sub-frame which is carriedby-a main frame. The sub-frame is ordinarily connected at its front endto the main frame by a, universal joint which is in a fixed positionwhile the rear end of the sub-frame is so mounted thatit can be swungaround the main frame to position the scraper blade at the desiredangle. With this structure, the sub-frame is not rotated bodily aboutthe main frame, which corresponds to the line of draft or pull, and,consequently, binding and resulting excessive strains will be set up inthe subframe, the scraper member and other parts associated with thesub-frame.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a road grader whichcarries a scraper blade that can be adjusted from a horizontal positionto any desired angular position up to a vertical position so that it maybe employed for grading horizontal surfaces, such as a roadbed, orangular or vertical surfaces, such as banks or the walls'of a ditch.

Another object of my invention is to provide a road grader of the typeindicated in the preceding paragraph wherein the scraper is carried by asub-frame which is adjustable on the main frame in such a manner that itmay be rotated bodily about the longitudinal center line of the mainframe, or line of draft or push, so that there will be no binding andresulting excessive strain created in the machine during operation.

Another object of my invention is to provide a machine of the typeindicated wherein all of the movable units are hydraulically controlledso that they may be adjusted with ease by thepperator i the surface tobe graded. Suspended from the main frame is a sub-frame which carries ascraper blade that is normally transversely disposed and in horizontalposition. The front end of the sub-frame is pivotally connected to themain frame and the rear end of the sub-frame is suspended from the mainframe by lifting links in such a manner that the sub-frame may be swungtowards and away from the main frame. This varies the distance of thescraper blade from the main frame. The sub-frame is supported on themain frame in such a manner that the entire subframe may be bodilyrevolved around the longitudinal center line of the main frame. Thisadjustment is for the purpose of moving the scraper blade to any desiredangle from a horizontal position to a vertical position. Furthermore,the sub-frame will revolve bodily around the main frame. Therefore,binding and resulting excessive strains will be eliminated from themachine. Thus, the adjusting of the scraper blade between horizontal andvertical positions is accomplished without the use of telescoping orcollapsing con necting links on lateral shifts and without shortening orlengthening the lifting links. The scraper blade is carried on the mainframe by means which permits swinging of the blade to any desired anglein a horizontal plane. All of the movable units of the machine arepreferably controlled hydraulically so that they may be operated withease.

The preferred embodiment of my invention is illustratedin theaccompanying drawings wherein similar characters of reference designatecorresponding parts and wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a machine constructed according to niyinvention.

Figure 2 is alongitudinal sectional view taken along line 2-2 of Figure3 through the main frame of my machine.

Figure 3 is a plan view of my invention, showing the scraper blade inhorizontal position.

Figure 4 is a similar view of a portion of the machine showing thescraper blade in vertical position.

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5-5 of Figure 6 showingthe sub-frame and associated parts of my machine.

Figure 6 is a side elevation of my machine.

Figure 7 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially along line'l'l of Figure 3.

With reference to the drawings, I have illustrated a road gradercomprising generally a main frame unit I, a sub-frame unit 2 and atractor or power unit 3. The particular construction-cf pair oflongitudinally extending channel members 4 disposed with their channeledsides towards each other and secured together by welding or othersuitable means. At the forward ends of the channels 4 a tubular bearingmember i is mounted thereon and may be suitably anchored in position. Atthe rear ends of the channels a tubular bearing member I is mountedthereon and may be suitably anchored in position. The tubular bearingmember 6 fits within a rearwardly projecting tubular housing 3 which isformed on the upper portion of a frame support 3. The interior of thehousing 3 is provided with an annular shoulder I which limits forwardmovement of the bearing 6 into the housing 8. The housing 3 is split atits upper side and is provided with pairs of lugs 8a which receive boltsby means of which the split portion of the housing may be drawn togetherto tightly clamp the bearing portion 6 therein. The frame support 3 isprovided with a depending yoke portion II which is swiveled thereto bymeans of a pin I 2. The yoke portion II receives an axle member is whichis pivotally connected thereto, as at I4. The axle I3 carries a pair ofpneumatically tired wheels l5. Suitable means (not shown) may beprovided for steering the wheels l5. Furthermore, the wheels l5 may beof the tilting type if desired.

The bearing sleeve 6 projects rearwardly from the housing 8. Thisprojecting portion of the bearing sleeve receives the forward end of alarge longitudinally extending tube or pipe l8 which is rotatablethereon. The rear end of this tube I6 is rotatably carried by aforwardly extending reduced portion of the bearing sleeve 1. The forwardend of the tube I6 will bear against the rear end of the housing 3 whilethe rear end of the tube IE will bear against an annular shoulder I! onthe bearing sleeve 1. The bearing sleeve 1 is supported in a forwardlyprojecting tubular housing IS. The member 1 is held in position withinthe housing I8 by means of a collar I! which surrounds member l8 andwhich extends over the shoulder I! of member 1. However, member I may besecured in member l8 by a press fit. The collar I9 is held in positionby means of a plurality of circumferentially spaced bolts 20 whichextend through openings in the collar and are threaded into the forwardedge of member It. The member I! is carried by the upper portion of anA-type frame 2| which extends forwardly and upwardly from the unit 3.

It will be apparent that when the unit 3 moves along, the frame 2| willpush the units I and 2 forwardly. The housing 8 serves as a thrustbearing at the forward end of the tube l6 while the bearing sleeve 1serves as a thrust bearing at the rear end of the tube IS. The tube I8may be rotated about the channel members 4 and about its own axis. Abolt member 22 passes through the forward end of the housing 8 and isthreaded into the block 5, carried by members 4 at the front endsthereof, to aid in positioning the housing I on bearing sleeve 6 and toaid in keeping it in position thereon.

The sub-frame 2 is of substantially Y-shape. Its forward end ispivotally connected, by a universal joint 23, to a yoke member 24. Thisyoke member 24 depends from a collar 25 which-is clamped to the forwardend of the tube It by means of a split clamping portion 28. The rear endof the frame 2 is suspended from the tube II by means of a pair ofhydraulic cylinder and piston units 21. Each of the units 21 ispivotally carried by a yoke 28, as at 2!, for swinging laterally of thetube I. The tube IO carries at diametrically opposed points trunnions 30upon which the yoke members 23 are rotatably mounted. Thus, the units 21may also swing longitudinally of the tube I4. Each of the units 21 isprovided with a piston rod 3| extending from the lower end thereof. Thelower end of each rod 3| is pivotally connected, as at 22, to the rearend of the frame 2. Suitable means, to be described later, is providedfor controlling the hydraulic fluid supply to the units 21. This meansis of such a nature that both units 21 may be operated simultaneously toswing the frame about the universal joint 23 and thereby raise or lowerthe rear end of the frame while still maintaining it substantiallyhorizontal or it may be operated to selectively control units 21 in sucha manner as to raise one side of the rear end of frame 2 and lower theother side thereof. In other words, frame 2 may be raised or loweredwithout'tilting transversely or it may be tilted transversely asdesired.

Theframe 2 at its rear end is provided with the usual type of circle" 33for supporting the scraper blade 34. The circle33 comprises a circularmember 35 which has an inwardly pro-- jecting flange 38 on its upperedge. This flange 36 rests on a plurality of brackets 31 secured to theframe 2 at a plurality of points circumferentially of member 35. Thescraper bar 34- is suspended from .member 35 by means of rearwardly anddownwardly extending pull bars 38. The lower end of bars 33 is pivotallyconnected to the blade 34, as at 33, adjacent the lower edge of theblade. At its upper edge the blade is provided with pivoted straps 40which are provided with a plurality of openings H. A pin may be passedthrough any one of these openings into an aligning opening in the bar33. Thus, the blade may be adJustably pivoted on the bars 38 to anydesired position and be held in such adjusted position.

The member 35 is adapted to be rotated about its axis to swing the blade34 in a horizontal plane by means of a cable 42 which passes around theperiphery thereof and is held in position thereon by suitable guides.This cable 42 is passed around a sheave 43 which is keyed to a shaft 44extending into a gear housing 45. The pin 44 carries a pinion 46 withinhousing 45 which engages a rack bar 41 slidably mounted in a guide 48secured to the housing. This rack bar 41 forms a portion of a piston rodextending from a hydraulic cylinder and piston unit 49 which ispivotally carried as at 50, by the frame 2. A suitable control forcontrolling the supply of fluid to the unit 43 is provided which will beexplained later. By properly controlling the unit 43 the blade 34 may beswung in a horizontal plane or about the axis of the circle 33.

For rotating the tube I 6 about its axis to revolve the frame 2 aboutsaid axis, I provide the following structure. It will be noted that asheave 5| is formed on the rear end of the tube IS. A cable 52 is passedaround this sheave 5|.

The two strands of this cable pass rearwardly over a pair of sheaves 53which are keyed on a shaft 54 that is transversely disposed androtatably carried by brackets 55 secured to the frame 2|. Shaft 54 isvertically adjustable in order to adjust the position of the sheaves 53to provide take-up in the cable. The rear portion of the cable passesaround a sheave 56 which is keyed on a shaft 51 that is rotatablycarried by the frame 2|. Below the sheave 56 the shaft 51 has a gear 58keyed thereon. This gear is engaged by a rack bar 59 which forms a partof a piston rod extending from the hydraulic cylinder and piston unit60. This unit 60 is rigidly carried by the frame 2|. A suitable control,referred to hereinafter, is provided for controlling operation of theunit 60. When the unit 60 is operated, the tube l 6 will be swung aboutits axis and, consequently, the frame 2 will be revolved bodily aboutthe axis of the tube l6. With this structure the blade 34 may be swungfrom the horizontal position shown in Figure l and some of the otherfigures to the vertical position shown in Figure 4 or to any desiredintermediate position. In fact, the blade 34 may be swung to a verticalposition at the opposite side of the machine from that shown in Figure4.

When the blade 34 is swung into a vertical position, or approaching avertical position, at

either side of the machine, it is desirable to have some means forsupporting the weight of the frame 2 and the parts carried thereby otherthan the piston rod 3|. For this purpose I provide a rod 61 which hasone end universally connected, as at 62, to the frame .2 and its otherend universally connected, as at 63,, to a bracket 64 extendingdownwardly from the tube Hi. This rod 6| will take the weight off thepiston rod 3| and will prevent binding of the piston rods or pistons ofthe units 21.

When it is desired to use my grader for grading substantially horizontalsurfaces, the units 1 21 are controlled to adjust the blade 34 to theproper level. They may be controlled in such a manner that the blade 34is horizontal or is tilted transversely of the machine to produce acrown on the road surface. The circle 33 may be operated by controllingunit 49 to swing the blade 34 to any desired position about the axis ofthe circle. When it is desired to use the grader for grading surfaces atan angle relative to the horizontal, the unit 60 is operated to causethe frame 2 to revolve about the axis of the tube I5.

All of the hydraulic cylinder and piston units may be controlled from acentral point. The control valves are preferably carried adjacent theoperators platform on the frame 2| (Figure 6). Two way valves 21a and21b are connected to units 21, and similar valves 49a and 60a areprovided for controlling the units 49 and 60.

The valves are connected to the various units and to a source ofhydraulic liquid in the usual manner.

An important feature of my invention resides in the fact that the frame2 is revolved bodily around the axis of the tube I 6. The force exertedthrough the frame 2 to pull the blade 34 along with the main frame Iwill be exerted on the axis of the frame 2. The pushing force exerted bythe unit 3 to move the grader itself along will be exerted along theaxis of the unit I. Thus, binding of the various parts of the machineand resulting excessive stresses will be eliminated. Since all parts ofthe machine are preferably hydraulically operated, the machine may becontrolled with ease by the operator from a central location.

Various other advantages will be apparent from the precedingdescription, the drawings and the following claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A road grader comprising a main frame, said main frame including asupport, a tubular member carried by said support for rotating about itsown axis, a sub-frame suspended from said tubular member, said sub-framehaving its forward end connected to said tubular member by a universaljoint and having its rear end connected to said sub-frame by verticallyadjustable means, a scraper blade carried by said sub-frame, and meansfor rotating said tubular member so that the sub-frame will be revolvedabout the axis thereof.

2. A road grader according to claim 1 wherein the vertically adjustablemeans includes hydraulically operated cylinder and piston units.

3. A road grader according to claim 1 wherein the scraper blade issupported on the sub-frame by means of a circle, and hydraulic means forcontrolling said circle.

4. A road grader comprising a main frame, said main frame including alongitudinally extending beam support, a longitudinally extend ingtubular member carried by said support for rotation about its own axis,a sub-frame suspended from said tubular member, said subframe having itsforward end connected to said tubular member by a universal joint andhaving its rear end connected to said sub-frame by vertically adjustablemeans permitting transverse tilting of the sub-frame, a scraper bladesupported on said sub-frame, said scraper blade being supported by meansof a circle permitting swinging of the bladejn a horizontal plane, andmeans for rotating said tubular member so that the sub-frame will berevolved about the axis thereof.

DANIEL F. BAUMGARTNER.

